The Government of the Azores welcomed today the agreement reached on the criteria for the implementation and distribution of the European aid to milk producers nationwide. This means that the Region will receive 46 percent of all funds granted by the European Commission to Portugal.
 
The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment stressed that this support measure, which represents an overall amount of 1.8 million Euros, reflects the fact that the Azores produce more than 30 percent of national milk and nearly 50 percent of national cheese.
 
Accordingly, the premium is set at 45 Euros per cow for the first 20 animals of each farm. This measure will benefit all regional producers.
 
However, Luís Neto Viveiros restated that the Azorean Government considers that the financial envelope of nearly four million Euros granted to Portugal under the 350 million-Euro special aid for milk producers is clearly insufficient.
 
The Secretary for Agriculture also welcomed the National Government's decision to implement the mandatory indication of origin on the label of milk and dairy products, as announced today.
 
Regarding the support measures for the milk sector, the Regional Government will anticipate the payment of support in October the aid granted under POSEI and PRORURAL+ by 70 and 80 percent, respectively, after authorisation of the European Commission.